Southern California -- this just in

Suspect in baby formula crime ring caught, others sought

Authorities in Palmdale say they have arrested a woman they suspect of being part of a crime ring involved in stealing “Enfamil” baby formula from stores across southern California.

Tiffanie Seniguar of Palmdale was taken into custody Thursday about 10 a.m. for stealing from a local Target store, deputies at the Palmdale sheriff’s station said. This is the second time Seniguar has been arrested this month for the same type of theft, and she is believed to be part of a larger group targeting Enfamil, according to Lt. Cory Kennedy of the Palmdale Detective Bureau.

Retail stores in Lancaster, Palmdale, the Santa Clarita Valley, Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles have been victims of the formula-theft crime ring, Kennedy said in a statement. The suspects have struck at least a dozen times, authorities said.

According to information released by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the suspects typically enter a location, snatch several cans of Enfamil formula and hide them in their purses or bags before leaving the store without paying.

Authorities in all the targeted jurisdictions have been working together for two months trying to identify and capture the suspects, Kennedy said.

Palmdale detectives were able to identify Seniguar from several store videos, where she was allegedly seen committing similar crimes, Kennedy said.

Authorities said they are still investigating why large quantities of baby formula were being stolen.